<html><head><title>Fixing D.C.&#39;s Schools: Michelle Rhee Takes Charge</title> 
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          ID: 9048,
          TITLE: "Fixing D.C.\x27s Schools: Michelle Rhee Takes Charge",
          STORY_URL: "DCSchoolReform",
          PUBLISHER: "The Washington Post",
          SUMMARY: "\x3cdiv style\x3d\x22float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;\x22\x3e\x3cimg src\x3d\x22http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/10/13/PH2009101303078.jpg\x22 border\x3d\x220\x22\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\n\x3cp style\x3d\x22font-size: 11px; color: rgb(85, 85, 85); font-family: arial; margin-top: 2px;\x22\x3eMichelle Rhee, D.C. Schools Chancellor\x3c/p\x3e\n\x3c/div\x3e\n\n\x3cp\x3e\n\x3cspan style\x3d\x22font-weight: bold; font-size: 17px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);\x22\x3eOverview:\x3c/span\x3e \nD.C. Schools Chancellor \x3ca onclick\x3d\x22showAtomPopup(9056, this)\x22 href\x3d\x22javascript:;\x22 class\x3d\x22secondaryLink\x22 tabindex\x3d\x220\x22\x3eMichelle A. Rhee\x3c/a\x3e was hired more than two years ago to \x3ca onclick\x3d\x22goToAtom(10094)\x22 href\x3d\x22javascript:;\x22 class\x3d\x22gwt-Anchor\x22 tabindex\x3d\x220\x22\x3eradically reform\x3c/a\x3e the District\x27s  public school system. The effort has produced some improvement in student test scores but has brought Rhee into conflict with the teachers\x27 union, some parents and, most recently, members of the D.C. Council. Rhee hired more than 900 new teachers over the summer despite a \x3ca onclick\x3d\x22showAtomPopup(10047, this)\x22 href\x3d\x22javascript:;\x22 class\x3d\x22secondaryLink\x22 tabindex\x3d\x220\x22\x3elarge budget cut \x3c/a\x3eordered by the Council, then \x3ca onclick\x3d\x22goToAtom(9049)\x22 href\x3d\x22javascript:;\x22 class\x3d\x22secondaryLink\x22 tabindex\x3d\x220\x22\x3elaid off 266\x3c/a\x3e in October instead of paring summer school programming, as the Council had directed.\n\x3c/p\x3e\n\n\x3ccode width\x3d\x22700\x22 height\x3d\x22125\x22\x3elsp:timeline\x3c/code\x3e\n\x3c!--lsp:break--\x3e\n\n\x3cp\x3e\nThe union filed suit to halt the layoffs, but a judge rejected the argument that they were an attempt by Rhee and \x3ca onclick\x3d\x22showAtomPopup(10115, this)\x22 href\x3d\x22javascript:;\x22 class\x3d\x22secondaryLink\x22 tabindex\x3d\x220\x22\x3eMayor Adrian M. Fenty\x3c/a\x3e (D) to winnow veteran instructors from the system. Bargaining on the next teachers\x27 contract has ground to a halt. Teachers also are skeptical about a new, rigorous evaluation system that Rhee has implemented.\n\x3c/p\x3e\n\n\x3cp\x3e\nMany parents have fled to the District\x27s charter school system, where 28,000 students are now enrolled. Nearly 46,000 attend traditional public schools. Some parents, meanwhile, are watching anxiously as Rhee attempts to draw more white, middle-class families into the public school system while continuing to serve its predominantly poor and minority students.\n\x3c/p\x3e",
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